Jauan Jennings is everything you could want in an NFL player on your favourite team.
But should you pay him? Disclaimer, he is my favourite player, so I am biased.
It is beyond doubt that Jennings gives the maximum effort every single play. He has maximised his potential, and outperformed others who have more natural talent.
Jennings is also underpaid based on his performance in 2024.
Therefore, it is no surprise that Jennings has requested a new contract. There is a split in opinion among 49ers fans as to whether they should meet his request, or trade him to a team who will.
In my opinion, the Niners have a far higher chance of winning the NFC West with Jennings on the roster, than elsewhere.
2025 implications
Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall will start training camp on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list. Deebo Samuel is no longer on the team.
That leaves Jennings and George Kittle as the only receivers in San Francisco who – injury permitting – can be relied upon come Week 1. Winning games at the start of the season is clearly much harder without Jennings.
Usual arguments about the salary cap offer a fair counter-argument. However, I think Jennings represents great financial value.
His attitude is not in question – he is not the kind of player to down tools after a payday. Jennings is also inexpensive in relative terms. It is in the interest of all parties to reach a deal. The 49ers can then do the usual manoeuvring of the salary cap to create additional space.
As I have said in previous articles, the 49ers simply have to improve on their 2024 performance. There is a very real chance to win the NFC if the Niners get off to a good start.
San Francisco is not a team that should be building for the future, or selling prize assets. As the only healthy and reliable wide receiver on the team, Jennings is absolutely a prize asset.
Emotion
As already indicated, I really like Jennings. His journey from a seventh round pick to ‘Third and Jauan’ – a nickname based on his tendency to come up clutch – has been great to follow.
If the 49ers had beaten the Chiefs in Super Bowl 58, Jennings might have been Super Bowl MVP.
His 11-catch, 175-yard, three touchdown performance against the Rams last year was legendary. It still stings that the team blew the game on his career day.
Finally, the reason Jennings missed out on a first 1,000 yard season in 2024 perfectly sums him up as a player.
In Week 18, he was ejected in the first half. The ejection was for some fisticuffs after a physical pancake block – a Jennings trademark.
‘Third and Jauan’ plays hard, puts the team first, and appears a model professional. I really, really hope that he is playing in the Red and Gold in 2025.
